Preps Program

The Italian Bilingual School offers Preps classes for three-year-olds
children with the aim of assisting them to adjust to the structured nature
of formal schooling and helping them to become accustomed to a bilingual
environment and, in particular, to the sound of the Italian language.

The Prep class, provided within the facilities of the Italian Bilingual
School, comprises a program in which the children are exposed to both Italian
and English languages. In the course of the day children work at their desks as
well as on floor activities in group work, pair work and individual work.

The program focuses on the development of early literacy and numeracy
skills in a supportive environment.

Students learn by being immersed in the language. They learn through the
language.

The time required before children are able to produce the language will
vary from individual to individual.

Readiness of children

To help your child settle quickly into school you can let your child get
used to:

eating from a lunch box.

undoing drinking containers.

knowing when to use a handkerchief or tissue.

Children need to be independent at:

going to the toilet.

clearly asking the teacher for things.

They need to know how:

to take turns

to separate from parents without anxiety

to listen and follow the teacher's instructions

to stay on task

to share with other children and

to understand the 'hands off' rule of the school.

Whilst the age of four is the entry point into the Transition class, the
children should have a reasonable degree of self-sufficiency before they
can be accepted because of the structured nature of the program. It may not
be possible to assess a child's readiness until they attend.

If the teachers determine that while the child may be four they are not yet
ready for this bilingual educational context, you will be informed within
the first week of attendance.